Belehrung der Jüdisch-Teutschen Red- und Schreib-Art [Instruction for the Art of Speaking and Writing Yiddish], by Johann Christoph Wagenseil. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Conrad Monath, 1737. German.

This work discusses the language and culture of Germany Jewry, particularly Yiddish (Jüdisch-Teutsch or Judeo-German), including texts in German, Hebrew, Yiddish and Latin.

Accompanied by 16 engravings, four of which cover an entire page – a chalitzah shoe, the Titus Gate in Rome, and more; as well as two folding engraved plates depicting scenes from the Arch of Victory on the Titus Gate.

Johann Christoph Wagenseil (1633-1705) was a German jurist, theologian and Hebraist who extensively studied rabbinic literature and its relation to Christianity. He opposed forced conversion of Jews, but supported conversion by means of persuasion and preaching.

[86], 334, 56 + [6] engraved plates. Approx. 20 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and light wear. Bookplate. Blue edges. Old cardboard binding, with parchment corners and spine. Stains and light wear to binding and spine.

Rare. Not documented in the NLI catalog, and to the best of our knowledge and research, has not previously been put up for auction.